Device for indicating improper prigger pulling



1943- V P. FlDELMAN 2,325,599

DEVICE FOR INDICATING IMPROPER TRIGGER PULLING Filed Aug. 5, 1940 I NVETOR awaw 4 ATTORNEYS with its objective, and is the frequent cause ofpoor marksmanship, The novice or beginner in the art of shooting oftenfinds it difiicult to exert the even pressure on the trigger to move itto the firing point Iii without disturbing the alinement of the firearmwith its objective. And even experienced marksmen will occasionally errin this respect without knowing the real reason for the lowering oftheir scores. The device of. the present invention is designed toindicate this error if it occurs in a shooters performance.

If the movement of the trigger past the firing point ill is continued tothe limit of movement toward the end l2 of the trigger guard, the hammeris first actuated and then the trigger moves through a short space.--The device of the present invention is actuated by the trigger as ittraverses this space. Accordingly, if the detonation of the firearm isfollowed immediately without appreciable break in the continuity ofsound by the operation of the signal, that indicates that the triggerwas jerked past the firing or hammer actuating point iii. If the firearmis detonated without a sounding of the signal that means that theshooter ceased pressure on the trigger at substantiallythe firing pointit. If the firearm is fired and an appreciable interval afterwards thesignal is operated, that meansthat'the shooter squeezed the triggerproperly as'far as IE, but followed the trigger ,through to the limit ofits movement. The interpretation of these occurrences assists theteacher in his instructions to the pupil or begin- ..ner and assists theexperienced shooter in correcting his own faults in trigger squeezing.

The device of the invention shown in the drawing in use in connectionwith arifie, which is a typical application of the invention, comprisesa flexible contact strip or piece M secured at one end to a block ofinsulating material l5 fixed in one corner of a contact support 16 oneend of which is bifurcated to provide resilient arms H which are adaptedto embrace tightly the end l2 of the trigger guard 9. An expansion coilspring it tends to press the contact piece I4 into normal position (asshown) in the path of travelof the trigger 8 when it is moved beyond thefiring position i!) to almost the limit of its movement toward the endI2 of the trigger guard.

, If the pressure on the trigger is strong (the port Hi. This actioncloses the circuit consisting of the wires 22 and 23 fed by the battery24. The bell signal 25 is located in the circuit. The wire 22 isconnected with the contact piece l4 and the wire 23 is connected withthe contact support It.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that if the triggeris jerked past the point of firing or hammer actuation l0 and forcedagainst the contact piece l4, pushing it against the contact point 20,the circuit through the wires 22 and 23 will be closed and the signal 25operated. Since accurate firearm shooting depends largely on acquiringgood habits, of which proper trigger squeezing is an important one, theuse of the device of the present invention which indicates the resultsof properand improper. trigger capable of movement beyond that position,and atriggerguard, a .device operative only when the trigger has beenmoved beyond the firing position at which the hammer is actuated forindicating when the trigger has been pulled be: yond such position atwhich the hammer is actu: ated, said device comprising a contact supportmounted on the trigger guard, a resilient contact when the latter ismoved far enough by the trigger, an electric circuit in which thecontacts are located and a signal in the circuit arranged to be operatedby the closing of the circuit through the contacts.

2. In firearms of the character described including a hammer and atrigger movable to a firing position at which the hammer is actuated andcapable of movement beyond that position, a device operative only whenthe trigger has been moved'beyond the firing position at which thehammer is actuated for indicating when the trigger has been pulledbeyond such position at which the hammer is actuated, said devicecomprising a contact piece movably mounted on the firearm and insulatedtherefrom, a stationary contact mounted on the firearm, said movablecontact being disposed beyond the firing position of the trigger and inthe path of movement of the trigger beyond the firing position andarranged to be moved by the trigger against the stationary contact whenthe trigger has been pulled beyond the firing position at which thehammer is actuated, an electric circuit in which the contacts arelocated and a signal in the circuit arranged to be operated when thecircuit is ating the signal when the trigger has been moved beyond thefiring position at which the hammer is actuated consisting of a movablemember mounted onthe firearm and located beyond the firing position ofthe trigger and in the path of the trigger as it travels beyond thefiring position at which the hammer is actuated and means connecting thesignal with the movable member when the latter is moved by the triggerfor operating the signal.

' PAUL FIDELMAN.

